24 hours in Munich

24 hours in Munich

Munich and I never really clicked. I grew up visiting parts of my family there in the summer, then came back for interviews and job stuff. I never really took the time to actually explore it and forget the stereotypes that have accumulated in my head over the years. In my mind, Munich was snobby, clean and boring. That’s by no means the full picture! So when I recently went there on a work trip, I took a day off to get an idea for what I’ve missed. If you ever make it to southern Germany, here’s what to do during 24 hours in Munich (Katja put together this little guide five years ago, this is a little update).

A photo posted by XXVI | 📍 ｍｕｎｉｃｈ (@mai_hearts) on May 31, 2016 at 9:58am PDT

9am: Breakfast at Aroma Kaffeebar

Well good morning Munich! Aroma Kaffeebar is a five-minute walk from the central station. It’s home to some of the city’s finest specialty coffee and serves traditional German cakes and sandwiches. They’re almost as good as Mama’s, I’m telling ya! The guys there also support Shades of Love, a humanitarian project that provides locals in the Himalayas with sunglasses to help protect their eyes from the strong UV rays.

Admittedly, you could spend entire days going through Munich’s art galleries but these two are my favourites. Villa Stuck is a small gallery with constantly changing exhibitions, so do keep an eye out on their program to make sure the pieces are your thing. Pinakothek der Moderne is an absolute institution and can probably be compared to London’s Tate Modern. I can also highly recommend Museum Brandhorst. They’ve dedicated an entire room to art by CY Twombly which has been the most inspiring exhibition I’ve seen in a long, long time!

2pm: Lunch at Trachtenvogl

I’ve been regularly going to Trachtenvogl for about eight years now and although it is becoming very, very, very popular, somehow the baristas managed not to lose any of their enthusiasm or friendliness. Thumbs up for their fresh lemonade, blankets and outside tables!

Right, you’ve probably heard this story. There is this little stream, Eisbach, where the young crowd practices their surfing skills while large parts of the population are watching or streaming it live on Periscope. No pressure. If you’d rather exercise a bit yourself, take a dip at Mullersches Volksbad, a historical indoor swimming pool and spa that will instantly make you feel like you’ve time-traveled to ancient Rome.

4.30pm: Afternoon rooftop coffee at Vorhoelzer Forum

Who’s in for a bit of rooftop action? Finding this one is a little tricky. It’s located on top of the Technical University (TU). The crowd up there consists of students, hipsters, tourists and art enthusiasts. It’s a pretty vibrant mix and the view over Munich is pretty fantastic.

6.30pm: Dinner at Bar Joon

Bar Joon is a popular hangout for students who are either procrastinating, getting drunk or scribbling some notes together in panic. Or all of the above. It’s one of these places that makes you realise that Munich is not just up and coming anymore, cool things (and furniture!) are already in full swing.

A photo posted by philippsiefken (@philippsiefken) on Aug 6, 2016 at 5:40am PDT

8pm: Drinks at Glockenbachviertel

The Glockenbachviertel district is your best bet for spontaneous encounters, whiskey sours and long summer nights. Especially in summer, just strolling up and down the streets will make it very hard for you to decide on just one bar at a time.

10pm: Nighty night at Derag Livinghotel

Your feet will now be very thankful for a bit of rest. Now listen up, because this one is a very well-kept secret: I’ve had the comfiest of nights at the sustainable and eco-friendly Derag Living Hotel. The building is literally on Viktualienmarkt, a huge market space with traditional Bavarian food, oriental spices and pretty flowers. Each room has been designed in a very minimalist, classy style and the panorama view on Munich’s old town also isn’t too shabby. Each room features an oil mattress where you can adjust the softness (not kidding!). It’s the perfect way to unwind after your whirlwind day in the city.

Have you been to Munich? If not, are you convinced to visit now? If so, what are some things you would add to the list? Let us know in the comments below.

Disclosure: The Derag Living Hotel provided us with two free nights,
all views are Caroline’s own.

Author:

Caroline

Caroline grew up with cameras of all shapes and sizes and fell in love with telling colourful stories early on. After spending her teenage years sneaking out of her parents’ house to explore (who hasn’t done that!?), she moved to London at 18 to study and see the world. After pit stops in Vancouver and Beirut she’s now happily based in Berlin and works as a freelance journalist and photographer. Caroline adores burgers, says ‘yes’ a lot and speaks way too fast. Follow her blog and Instagram to find out more. Say hi at caroline@travelettes.net.

That’s so funny about non-southern-Germans: we all have our stereotypes in mind about baviera and especially Munich. The truth is, politicians and the famous soccer club shape our image too much and as soon as we discover the places a little bit more in detail, we can learn a lot about people and the area in general. So thanks for your blogpost, because it’s showing all of us to overcome our stereotypes and give any place the chance of being discovered properly 😉

Ah I’m so glad that you’ve given Munich another chance! I live in Munich (am currently at the LMU) and completely love my city. Personally, my favorite part is the English garden, we always camp out there between classes 🙂